Engine rocker arm



May 10, 1949.

J. M. LEAKE ENGINE ROCKER ARM Filed Aug. 3, 1945 TI-E '1 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ENGINE ROCKER ARM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 9 Filed Aug. 3, 1945 I 41 I 15.12 I 49 42 0.

INVENTOR.

Patented May 10, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ENGINE ROCKER ARM James M. Leake, Monroe, Mich.

Application August 3, 1945, Serial No. 608,710

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in engine rocker arms, and more particularly to the type of rocker arm used to operate the valves of an overhead valve internal combustion engine.

My co-pending application, Serial No. 553,645, now Patent No. 2,415,213 issued February 4, 1947, provides a hollow stamped rocker arm in which the oil is forced to the top of the arm member and then flows over the top of the arm member to provide lubrication for the contacting bearings.

My improved engine rocker arm provides a lubrication system which acts more readily when the engine is started. It also provides a lubrication system that is enclosed in the arm member thereby avoiding dimculties encountered by dirt accumulating in the oil passageway.

Difiiculty has also been encountered in properly distributing the oil to the ends of the engine rocker arm. Very little lubricant is desired on the tappet end of the intake valve because the vacuum in the intake manifold draws the oil in around the intake valve stem and causes excessive oil consumption. Only a small quantity of oil is desired on the tappet end of the exhaust valve because the excess oil burns on the stem forming a carbon deposit which in turn causes the valves to stick. My improved engine rocker arm is adapted to provide oil to either or both ends of the engine rocker arm and also to control the quantity.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an engine rocker arm that is light in weight.

Another object of my invention is to provide an engine rocker arm with a hollow cross sectional construction formed from sheet metal.

Another object of my invention is to provide an engine rocker arm that will provide lubricant at either or both ends of the rocker arm.

Another object of my invention is to-provide an oil passageway within a hollow engine rocker arm.

Another object of my invention is to provide an engine rocker arm that provides an oil reservoir within the arm member.

Another object of my invention is to provide an engine rocker arm that provides adequate oil control.

Another object of my invention is to provide an engine rocker arm that is strong, durable, dependable and inexpensive.

Another object of my invention is to provide an engine rocker arm that is adapted to quantity production.

With the foregoing-and otherv objectsin view is stamped from sheet metal.

the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as herein'after more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein are shown several embodiments of my invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations, and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of claims hereunto appended.

In the drawing forming a portion of this specification and wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views-- Figure 1 is a front elevation of my novel engine rocker arm.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of my novel engine rocker arm shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end view of my novel engine rocker arm.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a pictorial view of one of the members of my improved, engine rocker arm.

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken along line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure '7 is a slight variation of the member shown in Figure 5.

Figure 8 is the front elevation of another form of engine rocker arm embodying my novel invention.

Figure 9 is a top plan view of my novel engine rocker arm shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is an end view of the engine rocker arm shown in Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken along line I l-ll of Figure 9.

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken along line l2l2 of Figure 9.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the upper portion of Figure 11 in an enlarged form.

Figure 14 is a front elevation of the inner member shown in Figure 12.

' Figure 15 is a top plan view of the inner member shown in Figure 14.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, an arm member Ill of inverted U-shaped cross section One end of the arm member ID is provided with a hollow partial prism portion I l adapted to receive an internally threaded member l2. The opposite end of the arm member [0 is provided with a, partial cylindrical portion l3 adapted to receive the stem [4 of the contacting bearing l5. A hub member Iii-extends through-the side walls ll of the arm member ID intermediate its ends. A bushing or bearing member 3 is secured in the hub l6. An oil passageway l9 extends through the hub l6 and the bushing I8.

A stamped member 28 is provided with a flat wall portion 2! adapted to be secured to the threaded member l2. A lower flat portion 22 extends from the fiat portion 2| and is secured to the hub [6. An upper flat portion 23 of the member 20 extends adjacent the upper wall 24 of the arm member and then extends downwardly and is secured to the hub it. The member engages the side walls H as shown in Figure 6.

The stamped member 20 in combination the side walls I! and the hub It provides a chamber 25 within the arm member it]. sageway 26 communicates the chamber 25 with the under surface of the arm member. The chamber 25 provides an oil passageway as well as an oil reservoir between the oil pasageways l9 and 216.

in actual operation the rocker arm is J'ournaled on :a rocker arm shaft (not shown). .Oil under pressure is fed from a passageway in the rocker arm shaft to the oil passageway 19, through the chamber and passageway 25 and through the oil passage from where it is thrown, by the rockn action of the engine rocker arm, onto the contacting bearing (not shown) which is secured in the threaded member 112.

A mall amount of oil c lle ts in the l wer noriion of the chamber 25. Wh n the e in stops the oil remains in this chamber thus 'prov'ding a reserv r of o l. W n the en ne is strt d the rocking action throws oil out of the @1 1 passag way :5 he e y supp in iubricant to t c a tin bearing no shown as soon as the en n ta ts- I th i res ntt n fa aei e roo er arm no reservoir is provided and hence no lub ication s r v ed until o reach s th so tacting bearing fed under pressure iron; a ,5 pply s u ce by an o pu p. n er h e con the contacting bearing (not shown) is never bricated during :the starting period.

My novel engine rocker arm overcomes this 1 diffi n t M n e ar ng men a s p ovid an internal oil passageway in a hollow engine rock a m his p nts i f m olle tin and clogging the oil passageways. Mymovel arrangement also prevents oil from reaching the f i? I fixed contacting bearing 1 5.

The stamped member as is preierablysecured in ,place by -a brazing or welding process. Ihe strength of the arm member is also increased by {the stamped member 29. The threaded ,memher [2 is secured to the stamped rririol ber :29, thus when ,pressure :is applied to the engine rocker arm in operation part of the strain is transmit- .ted ,by the stamped :member 26 to the ghllb t6 and side walls iii.

is similar to the stamped member 2.!) except that it is provided with side walls .2 3. Whenasserm bled the side vwalls 28 are secured to the malls i"! of the engine rocker arm rl il and thereby hel 'p transmit the strain from the threaded r'nernber 5 2 tothe side walls H of the engine rocker-arm 4-D.

Figures 8 to 12 disclose another form {Qf nov l en ine o e a m- In this orrnrthe' comprises an upper stamping g3! and r .stampingfii. Thestaznpings 31 and 3 telescope to p ovi an a m e b i deilb e walls al ithe :upper portion. .A threaded member 13;}

secur d wi hi t e pe end of th am manne .30. The contacting bearing 134, provided with La An oil passtem 35, is secured at the other end of the arm member 35 A hub member 36 extends transversely to the arm member 30. A bushing 31 is secured in the hub 38 provided with an annular bulged portion 38 which in combination with the bushing 31 provides an annular oil pasageway 39 surrounding the bushing 31. An oil passageway 6G communicates the inner surface of the bushing with the annular oil passageway 39.

A stamped inner member M is loeatedbetween the side walls of the lower stamping 32. The wall :32 of the stamping M is juxtaposed the threaded member 33 and is preferably secured thereto. The side walls 43 of the inner stamping 4| are secured to the side walls of the lower stamping A bottom 3 is secured to the lower stamping 3,2, extending portion extends from the bottom portion :34 to the hub member 35 and then upwardly to meet the upper wall of the upper stamping 3!.

The stamped inner member 41 in combinati n with side walls and upper walls or the arm member :39 provides a chamber gz'l. -'-,I.,he oil naseseway communicates the h mbe A?! with h und suriace of .tliea m membe :39- In p r- .n o l is :fe und r pres ure from a ocker arm aha-1ft mot shown) to the oi passa ew y 1 and is then ioro cl t r u h he an ular oil passa es/ray int he oi p ssa w 49- ;Some of he o low out o t top of the oil p ssa eway d9 over the upper wall 46 and down the side walls of the en i e roo era m onto th fix doo ti s bea i g fi meinde o the oi flows throu he oi uct :59 in th s am 14 h enamher it m i s e a .l$ 9 an a so provi es oi :aeesaeewey rom t du '50 to the oil t 8.- "he r cking a ion tilow th o l rom he '48 o tozt ee iusteble .iae be rns :5

i e th membe r i retai s a s a l lo rese roi a5? at t wa inont on the eo a Qua ti y of rema ns th o rese vo 2 whe th en ine aton When the gine i at ied again t e roc ng a t on o the en ne seeke arm 5 a sma Quant ty o to l ont the a steon ae ine b aring I i. in wa th ta le n e; .e bear ng .51 is iibrieateiies .,..;';E bea 7 a l A ve na combu tion engine (not shown) runs n-g enough -to wa r-inn oi rom th sour e f supply Knot shown) to h (o t etinebea ing. Gonsiderable wearof it dine-tab contacti g bea in ,is due zto t i t als :n o de n ternal :o l passa eway vfrom the ubt rthez. instab e ontaoting bearing. My

5&0 more) :ena n rocker arm al o mwvid a mem r'igure '7 shows a stamped member 23 extendin :i om :tne h eade'd member 5170 :the hub to help carry and distribute the stresses therebetweeni npe stamped .smember $131, .the lower stamped member 32,,i12h3l1lh'IIe3/d8d:m mb8r'33,;13118 stamped inner member ill, the fixed contactin h arin Land :the :llllb 36 are preferably :brazed into a substantially one piece member. EI-The-bushrin @3 is me s :fitztlid in the hub as, although it w ll :be apparent zto :those skilled in :the art that these members may be welded or otherwise LS8- huredrt a tb r.

lLQm th a ove idfiSQfiDfiQn vit :will the apparent that both forms .of my invention shown, ,and is described provide a ,-hollow :arm member, a

stamped member extending from the threaded member to the hub and thereby providing an oil reservoir within said arm member and an oil pass-age from the hub to the proximity of the adjustable contacting bearing.

The engine rocker arm of the present invention is rugged in construction and appearance but light in weight. While I have shown and described several embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that various changes, omissions, additions and substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as set forth in the accompanying claims.

What I claim is:

1. An engine rocker arm; comprising an arm member provided with spaced, vertical side walls; a hub member intermediate the ends of said arm member and protruding on each side thereof; and a metal member adjacent said hub member and extending therefrom in contact with said side walls thereby providing a substantially closed chamber between said spaced side walls, an oil passageway extending from said chamber to said hub and an oil passageway extending from said chamber to the lower side of said rocker arm.

2. An engine rocker arm comprising; an arm member, said arm member comprising spaced vertical'wall portions and an upper wall portion joining said vertical wall portions; a hub intermediate the ends of said arm member, a contacting bearing secured at one end of said arm memher; a threaded member secured between the side walls at the other end of said arm member; and a stamped member secured to said hub, said threaded member, and said arm member to provide a sealed oil passageway from said hub to the proximity of said threaded member.

3. An engine rocker arm comprising; an arm member, said arm member comprising spaced vertical side walls and an upper wall integral with said spaced side walls; a hub intermediate the ends of said arm member; a fixed contacting bearing located at one end of said arm member; a. threaded member secured between the side walls of said arm member at the other end thereof; a stamped member secured to said hub, said threaded member and said arm member to provide an oil reservoir; an oil passageway extending from hub to said 011 reservoir; and an oil passageway- 4. An engine rocker arm; comprising an arm member provided with spaced side walls and an upper wall joining said side walls; a hub member extending transversely to said side walls intermediate the ends of said arm member; a metal member extending from said hub intermediate said spaced side walls whereby an oil reservoir is provided between said spaced side walls; an oil to the inner surface of said hub and an oil passageway extending from said oil chamber to the outer surface of said hollow sheet metal arm member.

6. An engine rocker arm comprising; an arm member with spaced side walls and an upper wall joining said side walls; a threaded member secured between said spaced side walls; a hub intermediate the ends of said arm member, said hub provided with an annular bulged portion; a tubular bushing in said hub coacting with said annular bulged portion to provide an annular oil passageway between said hub and said bushing; an oil passageway connecting said annular oil passageway to the inner surface of said bushing; a stamped member secured to said hub and extending therefrom and enacting with said spaced side walls and said upper wall to form an oil reservoir; an oil passageway extending from said annular oil passageway to said oil reservoir and an oil passageway extending from said oil reservoir to the proximity of said threaded member.

JAMES M. LEAKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS I Number Name Date 1,244,481 Duesenberg et a1. Oct. 30, 1917 1,449,611 Konigslow Mar. 27, 1923 1,775,635 Ball Sept. 16, 1930 2,176,083 Leake Oct. 17, 1939 

